Regina to get emergency shelter for teens

An organization called Street Culture is about to open Saskatchewan's first shelter for homeless teens.

The 15-bed shelter, which has been in the works for the past four years, is scheduled to open in downtown Regina in February.

Kim Sutherland, Street Culture's CEO, said the space will be set up to accomodate 10 boys and five girls. Each teen will be allowed to stay for up to 30 days.

"It reflects of course that we do have a homeless population of young people and we will fill up very very quickly. We expect we'll be full within the first 48 hours," Sutherland said.

He said the shelter will allow them to assess the teenagers, so they can determine what they need to do to return to school or find a job and more permanent housing.

"That's our measurable outcome. To create taxpayers where they've been second or third generation dependants on social assistance," Sutherland said.

"So we have our work cut out for us. And that very first stage is a warm, safe place to sleep with a good meal in the morning."

The money to build the shelter came from the Federal Government Homelessness Partnering Strategy and from the Ministry of Social Services.

Street Culture will pay for programming initiatives, but the day-to-day operations of the shelter will be funded by Social Services.